It's a full front page splash in the Sunday Express, but they completely fail to discuss ME.

Click to expand...

If that was the extent of Wessley's "torrent of abuse" and death threats, it seems to me his mail scanning and police protection are ridiculous responses. I see worse than than in user comments on news articles. He's going to have to provide better evidence than "bull$h1t", "you will pay", or "evil bastards" before I'm going to buy his story of abuse that requires extreme personal protection methods.

That isn't to say I approve of sending nasty letters to people. It is nearly always counter-productive (to say nothing of obnoxious and ill-mannered).

The Media Circus - who does PR for W - he does seem to pull them into his little web of ignorance. And this a respectable journal carrying such trash. Looks like intentional provocation - best beloved by the psyche lobby (they have no science to "fight" with).

Wessely is a creep, he has caused so much suffering, he has benefited hugely from others misfortune. Why help him?

Click to expand...

There are two problems with whats being asserted in these quotes. The first problem is that the accusations against Wesseley are not sustainable in terms that anyone outside of an M.E/CFS affected perspective will take as being valid, and the more that such accusations are vocalised the more fanatical the accusers appear, further questioning the validity of their position. The second problem is that it is impossible to mount a campaign against Wesseley without confirming the now established proposition of unjustified attack in effect the battle is lost even before it could be begun. In a such a circumstance the only sensible thing to do is withdraw and embark upon a different strategy. In this case there is the very obvious opportunity presented by the costs of PACE stop attacking individuals and focus on a good old fashioned UK media obsession (not sex or house prices but still a goody) Government expenditure - 5 million for what ?

Firestormm - I wonder if you've managed to read Prof Hooper's clarifying letter (Bob's post 109 here). Just puts the whole thing in perspective rather than the usual ignorance picked up by the tabloid press. "Shoot the Messenger" in your post 115 from the Sunday Times sounds too biblical for me - well some humour needed.

There are two problems with whats being asserted in these quotes. The first problem is that the accusations against Wesseley are not sustainable in terms that anyone outside of an M.E/CFS affected perspective will take as being valid, and the more that such accusations are vocalised the more fanatical the accusers appear, further questioning the validity of their position. The second problem is that it is impossible to mount a campaign against Wesseley without confirming the now established proposition of unjustified attack in effect the battle is lost even before it could be begun. In a such a circumstance the only sensible thing to do is withdraw and embark upon a different strategy. In this case there is the very obvious opportunity presented by the costs of PACE stop attacking individuals and focus on a good old fashioned UK media obsession (not sex or house prices but still a goody) Government expenditure - 5 million for what ?

IVI

Click to expand...

I totally agree with you about the PACE Trial. But to prove that it was a waste of money, we have first got to convince people of how poor the results were, and that's a work in progress.

With regards to Wessely, I believe that his negative media campaign gives ME patients the chance to have our voices heard. The BBC is likely to be overwhelmed with so much correspondence from indignant patients, that I think they are likely to do a follow-up, which might look at the injustices that ME patients face, and the lack of resources and lack of funding etc. I think this might help us.